Bars
in Ho Chi Minh (Saigon) and Hanoi, Vietnam

A
guide to the best bars, nightlife and clubs in Vietnam

Vietnam
will definitely shock many visitors, when coming for the first
time. The skyscrapers of Ho Chi Minh (formerly Saigon) and
sprawl of Hanoi, are tributes to the determination of the
Vietnamese people, and the dollar of opportunity from foreign
investors. The mass of mopeds or motorbikes alone will overwhelm
most senses especially in Saigon. Here one could quite easily
spend a Saturday evening watching most of Saigon's population
all dressed up, and whizzing around literally in circles,
looking for their future girlfriend, wife or to simply chat
(whilst driving) to friends. This is Vietnam. We have some
pictures of Hanoi available here.

However
you may not want to sit looking at this motorbike spectacle
in disbelief, on stools so small you wonder who they were
made for. Instead you may feel that a nice refreshing drink
accompanied by live music, or even a night of disco would
be more appropriate. Then fear not; Ho Chi Minh has a lot
to offer, with many new discos and bars being added to the
already large supply. Having said that Hanoi, is by no means
quiet, just quieter, and there are still some great restaurants,
bars and discos to visit.

Modestos
Currently one of the more popular bars is "Modestos"
which is located on the ground floor of Me Linh Point Tower
(next to Renaissance Hotel). It has live music nightly and
is particularly popular with the Singaporean community and
Vietnamese ‘yuppies’.

Saigon
Saigon on the 10 floor of
the Delta Caravelle Hotel, has some of the best views of Saigon.
Built on a corner you have three different views of HCM. It
is the place to meet and tends to receive a fair number of
earlier after work drinkers. They also have a live band, which
attracts quite a crowd, although it is nothing like back home,
the bartender kept insisting that it got better. Great bar.
Now with Happy Hour from 4pm to 8pm "Buy one Get one
free" on all standard drinks and also Carlsberg beer.
Go for it !!

Apocalypse
Now Do not go here unless
you want a quiet game of pool, before 22:30 as it only really
starts to get busy from then on. This is more of a disco come
bar with one pool table thrown in. It is very popular at the
weekends with expats and locals alike. Good music, inexpensive
drinks, and a novel decor have made it famous within Vietnam.
They even have another outlet of similar style in Hanoi.

Shark
2000 is the latest addition
to the disco scene. One of my friends raved so much about
it, that I could not resist. Therefore I offer a word of caution,
because it is very easy to forget where we are. This is Vietnam
and when the locals rave about somewhere, they are raving
on local terms, so do not forget where you are and let your
imagination run wild. It is a good disco, and definitely the
best I have seen in HCM, but I am surprised the owner, was
not a little more imaginative with the decor. Still a great
place to dance with all the latest music, and a very good
place to mingle. Dance anyone ?

Cheers
is worth going to see only if you have lots of spare time
on your hands, and have seen everything else. It is an unusual
type of disco/nightclub/hostess bar. The girls, all dress
up in au dai (traditional Vietnamese dress) or other very
nice outfits, and do not as far as I know work there. At least
officially. Interesting place worth a peek.

Gecko
Bar Hai Ba Trung St,
D1 - early in the evening a quite spot for darts and a beer.
Later it hots up as a popular spot for a bit of dance on the
tiny dance floor. Your host Dragan is a charm.
Famous for their chocolate vodka shots. (reviewed by HL)

Bars
in Hanoi

Apocalypse
Nowis very similar to the
one in HCM, above. It starts late around 23:00 has one pool
table, good loud music and all the last ones for the road
that you need.